Looking for the ultimate Angkor Wat guide? Look no further, this post is full of information, guidelines, tips and photos from the Angkor Archaeological Park (commonly simplified Angkor Wat). When planning your trip, it can be difficult to figure out the must-sees and how many days to dedicate to Angkor Archaeological Park. This ultimate Angkor Wat guide will help you answer these questions.
ANGKOR WAT GUIDE – KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
⋙ TICKET OPTIONS: 1-Day Pass: $37, 3-Day Pass: $62, 7-Day Pass: $72 (Sometimes doing a larger-number pass is sometimes a better deal – i.e. if you only want to go two days, the 3-day pass is still cheaper.)
⋙ DRESS APPROPRIATELY: This is a sacred, religious site so modesty is very important. People must have knees and shoulders covered at all times in the temples. You won’t be allowed entry if you’re not appropriately dressed. The first time I visited you get around most of the grounds with your shoulders or knees exposed, but the second time I went it was less and less of the area you could explore “exposed”. It is very hot, so I wore shorts one day and brought elephant pants I could put on over them in temples. Or a kimono to cover tank top/dress straps, so on tuk-tuk rides, bike rides or walks between I wasn’t scorching hot. Also, upon entering a temple, don’t forget to take those hats off too!
⋙ ACT APPROPRIATELY: This is a key aspect to any Angkor Wat guide. Don’t climb up on Buddha figures. Don’t be disrespectful of the sites. Don’t touch any monks and ask them before taking a photo of them. Follow the rules of thumb for any Buddhist temple visit.
⋙ DON’T RIDE AN ELEPHANT: This is something that Angkor Wat is planning to ban in 2020, but in the months leading up to that, just don’t do it. It is very hard on the elephants and they undergo abuse to get them to the point of being ridable. Learn more about the ethics of animal tourism here.
ANGKOR WAT GUIDE – PRACTICAL INFORMATION
⋙ HOW TO GET AROUND THE TEMPLES VIA TUK TUK: You can rent a tuk-tuk with driver anywhere around Pub Street and even within Angkor Wat. I would recommend setting it up the day before you want to visit Angkor Wat. Your driver can even pick you up from your hotel/hostel/guesthouse. It’s so convenient and cost-effective. One full day was $20 and they take you to each of the sites and wait there for you.
⋙ GETTING AROUND THE TEMPLES VIA BIKE: The Angkor Complex is much larger than you might imagine. Not to mention, the heat out there is real. If you’re really wanting to explore by bike, I recommend picking one section of the park to explore that way. We chose to do Angkor Wat + Bayon by bike. We explored the rest via tuk tuk. Most accommodations will hike bike rentals.
⋙ PARK HOURS: Grounds open at 5 a.m. for sunrise, but most of the temples actually open to enter at 7:30 a.m. and close at 5:30 p.m.
⋙ KEEP YOUR TICKET WITH YOU: Don’t forget that your ticket. You won’t be permitted to enter. Beyond that, they check your ticket before entering any of the bigger sites. If you are found in the grounds without a ticket, you will be subject to some hefty fines.
⋙ WEAR WALKING SHOES: I swear by my Teva Hurricanes. I basically live in these shoes. I wear them when traveling and at home. They’re just so comfortable!
WHY WE RECOMMEND A 3-DAY PASS
Simply put, one day just isn’t enough, in my opinion. Unless, of course, you have such little time that it’s all you can spend here; it shouldn’t be missed. I believe that 90% of people will be able to see what they want to in 3 days time. If you’re an extreme archaeology nerd, and I mean extreme, do the seven day! In three days, you can easily hit the highlights and still explore more than the average visitor sees. Plus, you can do so at a more leisurely pace, if you need a bit of a respite from the hot afternoon sun.
Guide to Angkor Wat – Tips for Making the Best of Your Visit
⋙ DO THE GRAND CIRCUIT, BUT BACKWARDS – Tuk tuk drivers will pitch you something called either the “grand tour” or “grand circuit” meaning the main sites around the archaeological complex, but there’s a typical route and it goes from Angkor Wat to Bayon. When they pitch this to you, say yes, but backwards and show them on the map. This is a game changer. You’ll be at the temples with very few others or even alone by going against the normal flow. * This is the tip to remember – grand circuit, but backwards. *
⋙ GO FOR SUNRISE UNTIL YOU SEE A GOOD ONE – I recommend starting your very first visit with a sunrise. If it’s a stunner, you’ve gotten that highlight out of the way. If it’s a bust, it’s very easy to try again.
⋙ DON’T ARRIVE JUST BEFORE THE SUNRISES – Watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat draws a massive crowd. If you cut it too close it will be very difficult to get a good spot to photograph or even enjoy the sunrise. The gates open at five a.m. and I would try to get there around then.
⋙ THE TEMPLES THEMSELVES DON’T OPEN UNTIL A BIT LATER – While this is a bit frustrating, there are loads of stalls ready to serve you up some breakfast near the entrance to Angkor Wat. The grounds are open for walks, you just can’t go in the individual sites. You could check off some things while you’re waiting, though. Like, the outside of temples or smaller buildings surrounding the main sites.
THE SITES WITHIN THE ANGKOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMPLEX
Obviously, sites like Angkor Wat, Bayon with all the faces of the Buddha and Ta Prohm’s Hollywood showcase in Tomb Raider get all the glory when it comes to visiting this amazing archaeological complex. And, yes, these are some of the most spectacular sites, but did you know that there are actually dozens of individual sites within the Angkor Archaeological Complex. This 3-day Angkor Wat Guide is meant to show off some of the more spectacular or interesting sites within the complex that you can reasonably visit and enjoy in that amount of time.
ANGKOR WAT
Angkor Wat is the “main attraction”. This is the place you see the iconic sunrise photo of. A large mote surrounds Angkor Wat. Once you cross over, you’ll find a fortress-like structure surrounding the main entrance that’s completely covered with intricate bas relief of illustrations of ancient Hindu tales. From there you enter into the grounds of Angkor Wat. There are other structures inside (libraries, galleries, etc.) before you come upon the main bridge to the temple. There is a small pool to the left of the main bridge (when facing the inner temple of Angkor Wat) and this is where people gather to watch the sunrise and catch the amazing view with the reflection.
Don’t forget to come back for a visit inside the temple after it opens, too. It’s a beautiful structure! Know, though, that the climb up this temple is steep and uneven, so enter with caution. The view from the top of the temple is quite beautiful as well.
TA PROHM or “TOMB RAIDER TEMPLE”
Ta Prohm’s origin was a Buddhist university and monastery. Although it is being worked on for maintenance, it’s hasn’t yet been restored in the same manner as some of the other sites within the Angkor Complex. The tree growing up and out of this temple is part of what makes this site iconic. This ruggedness not only appeals to travelers, who can’t help but feel like Indiana Jones walking through here, but to Hollywood as well. This temple is often referred to as The Tomb Raider Temple because of its iconic role in the first Tomb Raider film. You definitely want to get here earlier than later, as this temple sees a lot of visitors and flow of traffic through the temple can get quite backed up.
BANTEAY KDEI
Historically, this was a citadel for monks to live in. Monks have actually lived here all the way up to the 1960’s. This is one of my favorite structures to share with you in this Angkor Wat guide. I’ve been in it three times now, at varying times throughout the day, and you can always find a bit of peace in here. It’s a larger site than it first appears and is filled with all kinds of carvings and more. Plus, when you first walk in, it’s decorated with bright prayer flags strung all through the opening. Directly inside is a Buddha figure and a beautiful area for offerings made and incense to be lit. It just feels like more of an experience than just popping in. Like a living, breathing temple.
PRASAT KRAVAN
This small, 5-towered temple dates back to the 10th century. It was dedicated to Vishnu. Although it is small, it is quite beautiful. It doesn’t take long to walk through this temple, but it’s still worth a visit. The examples of bas relief in this temple are striking. They’re done in a very unique style that looks much different than the other temples. Also, I loved the pink brink that makes up this temple. Don’t pass this one by, just because it’s small.
PRE RUP
Pre Rup is a pretty spectacular temple to visit. It’s a beautiful reddish-pink structure that you can climb to the top of to look down over the structure. You can climb up to the top to look down on the rest of the temple. The steps are super steep and ridiculously tall. So be sure to watch your step when climbing up. This temple has 5 towers and this is supposed to be symbolic of Mount Meru, the sacred mountain in Hinduism with 5 peaks – their center of the universe. The views from the top are beautiful and it’s just a wonderful spot to visit.
EASTERN MEBON
This temple is very near Pre Rup, but sits in what was once a reservoir, but is now dry. The main standout to me from this temple is the elephant statues. You can walk around the now non-existent island or climb the steps up to check out the stunning, and quite large, elephant statues up-close. Also, there are some stunning doors that have an almost turquoise look to them because of the mosses + lichens growing on them.
TA SOM
This temple, much like Ta Prohm was left similar to the way it was re-discovered. It also has large fig trees growing on and around the sites and is stunningly covered in carvings all over the walls. The difference is, unlike Ta Prohm, you’ll have this temple mostly to yourself. Its wildness and quietness is so much of what makes it unforgettable to explore.
NEAK PEAN or “SNAKE TEMPLE”
The locals call this the Snake Temple because of the snake figures (Nāga) that surround the base of the temple. This is a fun place to explore because it’s got a bit of adventure and mystery to it. Unlike the other sites that you can immediately see as you pull up to them, at Neak Pean, you’re unsure of where you’re going a bit because you pull up to lake. From there, you have to walk across the lake on a small boardwalk. It leads into a small group of trees and once you pass through those. You come to the temple surrounded with water and with four chambers.
This temple was meant to be a medical haven for practitioners. These separate pools were meant to restore balance, and therefore the thought was, that restoration of balance would cure diseases. This temple isn’t a major structure, like so many of the others. However, its peaceful location in a grove of trees, separated by a the water, makes it pretty unforgettable.
PREAH KAHN
Preah Kahn is a gorgeous temple with so much to see within the one structure. There is a temple, libraries, a fairly large stupa housed in the middle and a courtyard with massive trees growing inside the courtyard as well as on top of the structures. Plus the walls are covered with, you guessed it, bas relief of vedas and intricate figures as well! The library ruins are off to the side a bit, covered with mosses and lichens. You could spend a very long time exploring this site because there’s a lot to see.
BAPHUON or “PYRAMID TEMPLE”, PHIMEANAKAS and PREAH PALILAY
These three sites are all housed within Angkor Thom, just up from Angkor Wat. The first, is the Pyramid Temple. This 11th century temple is a must-see. It is probably the second-most-crowded site in Angkor Thom, but is still worth stopping into. There are pools surrounding this temple that you can find local kids swimming in – it’s so cute. Its original use was as a temple dedicated to Shiva before being converted into a Buddhist temple 400+ years later.
Phimeanakas is a bit like a mini Pyramid Temple, and is part of the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom. When Stacey and I went up it in 2015, no one else was there. You could climb the stairs and take in the view from above and felt a bit adventurous.
Speaking of feeling adventurous, Preah Palilay is the place to go if you want to get your inner-Indiana-Jones on. This greatly dilapidated temple is a bit off the beaten path, but so worth visiting. You can climb up inside and see the temples the way they looked before reconstruction. Plus, I love the wildness of it with the three large trees growing out the backside of the temple. Keep an eye our for snakes and scorpions here because there are loads of places for them to hide.
TERRACE OF THE ELEPHANTS, TERRACE OF THE LEPER KING and PRASAT SOUR PRAT
The Terrace of the Elephants was traditionally used as a place for the king to watch the army roll back in after victories. The terrace is named for the bas relief carvings and large figures of elephants carved all over it.
The Terrace of the Leper King is a terrace that tells the stories of the Hindu god of death: Yama. There is a section of this stone work with a horseshoe shape and it is thought that this was a cremation site. Which made sense to me because of the etchings and carvings of Yama.
Prasat Sour Prat is a site with twelve towers, many of which are destroyed or only partially reconstructed. It is said that this was an area where Angkorians were to settle disputes.
BAYAN
Bayan is one of the most iconic sites within the Angkor Archaeological Complex because of the 200+ smiling faces of Avalokiteśvara that adorn the towers and the walls. In addition to the many faces, there are all kinds of amazing examples of bas relief. I know that sounds repetitive, but each temple’s bas reliefs are so different and equally amazing! Some favorites here are the devas, which you can see below.
In Bayon you’ll find a large number of monks. Don’t forget to follow the same respectful rules as you do in the rest of the complex. You’ll find the photo of a monk and me above. We saw these monks taking pictures and I went up to have my photo taken by Matt in this window. The monks stopped me and wanted a photo of me as well. Then, I asked the monk to pose with me and got this stellar memory and photo from this beautiful temple.
ANGKOR WAT GUIDE – WHAT NOT TO DO
I already covered many of these above, but I want to reiterate common faux pas or simple no-no’s for visiting Angkor Wat.
⋙ DON’T DRESS INAPPROPRIATELY – Keep those knees and shoulders covered!
⋙ DON’T RIDE AN ELEPHANT – Although this is something they’re going to be ending this by 2020. That said, they’re still offering them for the remainder of 2019 and you don’t want to be a part of harming these beautiful creatures.
⋙ DON’T TOUCH MONKS – Monks are respected figures. It’s part of the culture that you’re not to touch monks. If a monk agrees to or asks to post with you for a photo, don’t put your arms around them. Especially women.
⋙ DON’T CLIMB ON BUDDHA FIGURES, STUPAS, ETC. – I know that the Buddha has become a bit of a pop culture figure, but these statues are meaningful to the monks, practitioners and devotees who visit. Treat these figures with respect. If you don’t care about that, they’re amazing pieces of history worth preserving.
⋙ DON’T FEED THE MONKEYS – There are all kinds of cheeky monkeys roaming around the grounds. They’re used to being fed by humans, but that’s not a good excuse to feed them. They’re wild animals and there’s always a possibility that they could have rabies. Plus, that food isn’t good for the monkeys.
WHERE TO STAY IN SIEM REAP FOR ANY BUDGET
SHOESTRING BUDGET: SLEEP POD HOSTEL – As low as $3-4 for a dorm or only $15 for a private room with private bathroom. Close to city center, but has a bar + restaurant on site as well. And an outdoor pool to get a relief from the heat.
PURE LUXURY FOR ABOUT $26/NIGHT: SAMBATH RESIDENCE – This has all the amenities one could imagine and more for only $26/night. We stayed here for about 10 days extra than planned because we enjoyed it so much. It sits just outside of town, but that makes it even more cozy because you’re away from all the music of the clubs and bars. Plus, they offer free tuk-tuk rides and breakfast is included. Read my full review on Sambath Residence here.
INDULGENCE W/ A SPA ON SITE: SOKKHAK BOUTIQUE RESORT: This place looks like some amazing luxury – with a 9.5 rating on Booking.com, it seems like it would be pretty great! Plus, the rates are super reasonable. You can get a one-bedroom villa for less than $175 and that includes airport transfers! But you can stay here for as little as $80-ish.
I hope that this Angkor Wat guide is helpful to you! Even if you choose to only do one day I hope that this helps you with the practical information and choose which sites entice you the most.
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